Follow God’s example and take time to rest

He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (Mark 6:31)

A popular restaurant near my home posted a “Closed for Renovations” sign last May. When my 75th birthday approached, I felt the need for a little renovating myself. So I took off on a short road trip, alone, with God and closed down the computer, iPad and phone.

I loaded my Kindle with new reading material (I knew I could count on the Gideons for Scripture). I packed healthy snacks in the cooler, along with a bottle of champagne. A friend had even given me a noise maker if I got the urge to celebrate (chocolate was included in her gift, too).

Yes, I decided to permit myself to check out, rest and reflect. After all, God rested at the end of creation.

[bctt tweet=”We rarely say no to others, but we often say no to ourselves. ” username=”womenoftheelca”]

As women of the church, we always seem to have our plates full of more than green jello and hot dishes. It seems that we are the ones who get asked to help. (If you want things done, ask a busy woman.)

We rarely say no to others, but we often say no to ourselves.

Was it when we were busy raising our families or “busy with retirement” that we began disobeying God’s fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath holy? The days are so busy now that it’s hard to remember when seven days have gone by!

Busyness is the enemy of our soul, and we need to stop. It’s okay to set some time aside just for you. Yes, your family needs you. Your animals need you. Your church needs you. The world needs you.

But, you need you to be healthy and refreshed. Don’t wait for free time in your life to make needed renovations. Free time will never happen unless you create it.

My home is my sanctuary, but it still needs dusting and weeding. I still have to check the mail and do laundry. We need a total get-away to get in touch with where we are in life. It can be a real wake-up call from God.

When my local restaurant reopened in July, it was a day for celebrating. That’s the same feeling I got when I returned from my birthday renovation. I came back refreshed, ready to celebrate and live my life with more purpose.

How do you recharge?

Suki Kisling is vice president of the Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA Synod. She’s been active in Women of the ELCA ministries since the early 1980s. She looks forward to welcoming you to Phoenix, Ariz., in July 2020 for the Eleventh Triennial Convention and Gathering. If you’re interested in finding a quiet place to relax and get in touch with God, download our Sacred Spaces resources.